Published online Feb 24, 2017. doi: 10.5500/wjt.v7.i1.43
Peer-review started: July 12, 2016
First decision: September 9, 2016
Revised: October 9, 2016
Accepted: November 27, 2016
Article in press: November 29, 2016
Published online: February 24, 2017
Processing time: 231 Days and 2.1 Hours
To emphasize the effectiveness and versatility of prosthesis, and good tolerance by patients with incisional hernia (IH).
From December 2001 to February 2016, 270 liver transplantations were performed at San Camillo Hospital. IH occurred in 78 patients (28.8%). IH usually appeared early within the first year post-orthotopic liver transplantation. In the first era, fascial defect was repaired by primary closure for defects smaller than 2.5 cm or with synthetic mesh for greater defects. Recently, we started using biological mesh (Permacol™, Covidien). We present a series of five transplanted patients submitted to surgery for abdominal wall defect correction repaired with biological mesh (Permacol™, Covidien).
In our cases, the use of biological prosthesis (Permacol™, Covidien) have proven to be effective and versatile in repairing hernia defects of different kinds; patients did not suffer infections of the prosthesis and no recurrence was observed. Furthermore, the prosthesis remains intact even in the years after surgery.
The cases that we presented show that the use of biological mesh (Permacol™, Covidien) in transplanted patients may be safe and effective, being careful in the management of perioperative immunosuppression and renal and graft function, although the cost of the product itself has been the main limiting factor and there is need for prospective studies for further evaluations.
Core tip: Incisional hernia (IH) following abdominal organ transplantation have a high rate, and even more in immunosuppressed patients. Several factors have been described to be associated with IH in transplant patients. Herein, we present our preliminary experience with porcine dermal collagen mesh.